Stingray-the most divisive bass sound?

[DirkP]

The only two Stingray players I admire are Bernard Edwards and Paul Denman. And these are the only ones I know off that kept being Stingray players. Most of the other ones, who started with a Stingray later switched to mostly Fender basses (Pino, Flea, John Deacon). I own a Stingray Classic, a wonderfull crafted instrument, but I would always prefer Fender basses. And these have many distinctive sounds.
Both players I have mentioned that stayed with their Stingrays used them in an unusual way. Not that clingy clangy trebly sound the Stingray is known for.
It is clear and no rocket science needed, that a very present trebly sound full of high end will appeal to uneducated listeners.
But I prefer Fender basses both for in the ear jumping melody playing and real fundamental bass, with lots of low mids or just the sub bass. My Stingray, although I love it and will keep it doesn't see much playing time.

 

[BrotherMister]

Treat em right, they'll treat you right.

This was a treat for me, as much as I love Chaka there is something about that cover of Stop On By just floors me. You wouldn't think a recording from a fairly middle of the road English pop act could foreshadow the whole neo soul thing, but it does.
Pino's playing on it really demonstrates why he was the obvious choice for so many of those seminal records.

 

[kmon]

Although mine are all passive, I got a few basses w/ the MM PU at the correct position. If my P or J basses don't work for whatever reason, I use the MM.

I haven't found a stingray that has stuck. My kiloton is a keeper though and I'd argue it's in the stingray neighborhood tone wise. I'm with @MYLOWFREQ ...it's very different from the Ps and Js and L2Ks in a very good way.

I like passive G&L things, so maybe it's all in my head.

 

[Geri O]

Assuming that the stingray sound is divisive, and I'm not sure it really is,
I suppose it's a testament to its strong character.
It refuses to be denied. It elicits a response

The best response here! Cheers!

 

[Geri O]

The only two Stingray players I admire are Bernard Edwards and Paul Denman. And these are the only ones I know off that kept being Stingray players. Most of the other ones, who started with a Stingray later switched to mostly Fender basses (Pino, Flea, John Deacon). I own a Stingray Classic, a wonderfull crafted instrument, but I would always prefer Fender basses. And these have many distinctive sounds.
Both players I have mentioned that stayed with their Stingrays used them in an unusual way. Not that clingy clangy trebly sound the Stingray is known for.
It is clear and no rocket science needed, that a very present trebly sound full of high end will appeal to uneducated listeners.
But I prefer Fender basses both for in the ear jumping melody playing and real fundamental bass, with lots of low mids or just the sub bass. My Stingray, although I love it and will keep it doesn't see much playing time.

Love both of those guys. Tony Levin has also been a Stingray player for a long time.

Thinking highly of our opinions now, aren't we….

 

[Grizelda100]

Not for me but some of my favorite musicians use them.
They seem a bit overpriced as well.

 

[bluesblaster]

Nope on copping that sound with any Jazz. Own both of them and try it.

we'll have to agree to disagree there, done it no problem. A studio recording and a live setting are two different animals. A certain bass tone becomes more pronounce in a recorded setting, live...not so much.

 

[Element Zero]

Interesting. Of all the bass players I personally know, not one of them has ever said they didn't like the sound of a Stingray. To be fair, I've never asked them but still.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

This was a treat for me, as much as I love Chaka there is something about that cover of Stop On By just floors me. You wouldn't think a recording from a fairly middle of the road English pop act could foreshadow the whole neo soul thing, but it does.
Pino's playing on it really demonstrates why he was the obvious choice for so many of those seminal records.

Bobby Womack was the original and I think he wrote it. The way Paul Young is performing it, I think he gave Bobby Womack's version a good listen, and the same goes for Pino's playing.

 

[CaptainWally]

For me the Stingray/Sterling is very divisive. In my own mind.

I've tried owning one four different times. I really like/respect the instruments, but that's just not my tone/jam. In my hands, a single MM is honky and sounds like @#$# with a pick.

I was really excited to try the new Stingray Specials with two pickups. They are awesome instruments, but when I checked one out at the shop, I liked most in "Jazz mode". And probably would never use it any other way, so...

Left the shop, and bought my go-to Mike Lull M4V at another shop on my way home.

True story, bro.

 

[dave64o]

...It is clear and no rocket science needed, that a very present trebly sound full of high end will appeal to uneducated listeners.
...

I use flats on my Stingray and get a great vintagey, classic rock tone with as much or as little grind as I want. It's my#1 bass in my collection by a wide margin and I don't use a present trebly sound full of high end because it's not my thing. But even though I have a similar tonal preference as you, that statement is complete .

You don't like it, fine. There's nothing wrong with that. But to say that it's only the uneducated who appreciate the creativeness genius of the likes of Chris Squire, Geddy Lee, Steve Harris, John Entwistle, Graham Maby, Roger Glover, Mike Rutherford, just to name a few, is simply ridiculous. Not having the same preferences as you doesn't make others morons.

 

[Dluxe]

Probably my absolute favorite StingRay sound is Tony Levin on Double Fantasy.
Also his playing on Robbie Robertson's Somewhere Down The Crazy River. I was definitely inspired by Bernard Edwards which led to my first purchase in 1982. I found a '78 in the classifieds for $325 .

 

[lordradish]

I find this interesting. Both in real life and from a couple of YouTube comparisons I've made it seems that the Stingray is the bass sound that people either love or hate. One of the few instances where someone has asked me to record with a certain sound it was a Ray. On the other hand many people find it annoying and artificial sounding. P or Jazz type basses by comparison most people (especially non bassists) do not really have strong opinions on IMO. Has anyone else noticed this?

No, but if someone did tell me that, I'd give them a strange look, laugh, and walk away. There's some people that simply can't comprehend there are tones other than P or J.

 

[lordradish]

It depends, there are some variants I do not like but a single H Ray does sound good. Now if only they made a 6 string...

And yes, the bongo doesn't count

Yes, times 10.

 

[songwriter21]

Never been a fan. I think EBMMs are seriously overrated as a whole, and the Stingray, I have always found pingy and boomy. The midrange is hollow and wiry, and the 2nd fret harmonics are weak/non-existent.

 

[retslock]

I find this interesting. Both in real life and from a couple of YouTube comparisons I've made it seems that the Stingray is the bass sound that people either love or hate. One of the few instances where someone has asked me to record with a certain sound it was a Ray. On the other hand many people find it annoying and artificial sounding. P or Jazz type basses by comparison most people (especially non bassists) do not really have strong opinions on IMO. Has anyone else noticed this?

For me it's too hard and woody. Not for me. I had one but I couldn't get to like it so it went. The other sounds I don't enjoy are a solo'd bridge pickup and a bright twangy piano like tone. No doubt there are plenty here who love those sounds. It takes all kinds.

 

[Freekmagnet]

Well, since several of the classic StingRay players have already been mentioned, (Bernard Edwards, Paul Denman, Louis Johnson, etc.) allow me to post another one of my favorite (StingRay) bass players, the often-overlooked Cliff Williams. I've never been a rock player, but Cliff Williams definitely can rock that "divisive" tone like no one else.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Bobby Womack was the original and I think he wrote it. The way Paul Young is performing it, I think he gave Bobby Womack's version a good listen, and the same goes for Pino's playing.

This is original version by Bobby Womack.

 

[svlilioukalani]

I have to take this thread with a grain of salt. This is a site where people argue over if a Squire is better than an American Fender. So many players here seem to hate what they don't have.

It also appears many on this thread have not figured out how to operate the active pre-amp. The pre-amp is sensitive and not always intuitive. These are gigging basses. What sounds good in your bedroom will not usually work on stage or in the studio.

I gig with a Sterling, same sound just lighter and slimmer. It is an amazing bass to gig with. It's what works for me. I also choose to gig with it over the other 40 quality basses I have. I find that a MusicMan bass is just a more evolved Fender. Same as G & L. I choose to use it over the G & L because the pre-amp allows me to fine tune my sound on stage.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Well, since several of the classic StingRay players have already been mentioned, (Bernard Edwards, Paul Denman, Louis Johnson, etc.) allow me to post another one of my favorite (StingRay) bass players, the often-overlooked Cliff Williams. I've never been a rock player, but Cliff Williams definitely can rock that "divisive" tone like no one else.

Cliff Williams deserves his recognition. I still am in shock over the $7,000 for his signature bass. That said, Fender charges that kind of money relic'd Jazz and P-basses all the time.